General Information
Salary: £26,475 - £31,650
Working Pattern: Full Time, Part Time, Part Time/Job Share, Flexible Working
Vacancy Approach: External
Location: Reading
Region: South Central
Closing Date: 22-Sep-2025
Business Unit: AGY - NOMS Agency
Post Type: Permanent
Civil Service Grade: Other
Number of jobs available: 1
Reserve List: 12 Months
Job ID: 9677
Descriptions & requirements
Job description
Are you a confident communicator? Are you passionate about rehabilitation and the benefits of group work? Could you help people make meaningful and sustained changes in their lives? If so, then a career as a Programmes Facilitator in the Probation Service in South Central could be for you.
Providing interventions to people who engage in harmful behaviour to help reduce their likelihood of reoffending is an important part of our work in HMPPS. Accredited Programmes aim to support people in our care to strengthen and develop skills and behaviour to enable greater choice and capacity to lead a more constructive, meaningful and crime free future.
As a Programmes Facilitator, you will be responsible for delivering these Accredited Programmes to individuals from a range of backgrounds and with different offending histories. You will plan, deliver and debrief a range of sessions to diverse groups of individuals on key areas of need, such as emotional management, problem solving, assertive communication, thinking skills, and social and relationship skills. You will use your keen understanding and awareness of group dynamics and the complex needs of people on probation to inform how you manage the sessions, and use your prosocial modelling skills to reinforce positive behaviour and challenge anti-social behaviour and attitudes.
Our team is made up of a strong and inclusive group of colleagues, from all walks of life, who are passionate about helping and motivating people on probation. You will work alongside your fellow team members to ensure that people on probation receive the highest quality input and support, as well as sharing information and providing guidance to members of the wider Probation Service, such as Probation Practitioners and Domestic Abuse Safety Officers.
The South Central Intervention Team is committed to learning and development, and full training for the role of Facilitator is provided. This is alongside regular support and reflective supervision provided throughout your journey by Programme Managers, as well as regular feedback and input from experienced Treatment Manager colleagues.
The work is varied, challenging and meaningful and comes with job security, great benefits and career progression opportunities – not to mention the chance to make a real difference to people’s lives and our communities.
Requirements of the Programme Facilitator Role Include:
* Training in the delivery of groupwork programmes as outlined in the Accredited Programme and Structured Interventions Manuals and in keeping with the core concepts of group work delivery.
* Delivering programme sessions to groups or individuals.
* Monitoring group participants’ progress, providing participants with feedback, and ensuring this is recorded on relevant systems.
* Working as a team to support performance targets and programme integrity requirements.
* Working alongside Treatment Managers to contribute to the assessment of risk, protective factors and treatment targets of those attending groups.
* Undertaking regular training, feedback and development sessions and workshops.
* Liaising with Probation Practitioners, Domestic Abuse Safety Officers and partner agencies to share information on progress, risk and needs.
* Identifying and taking the necessary action to protect children and vulnerable adults and promote their welfare in accordance with safeguarding policies and procedures.
* Required to work up to 3 ‘unsociable’ sessions per week (evenings and/or Saturday).
* Delivering groups from various delivery venues across the South Central Region including Reading.
Overview of the job
The job holder will deliver a range of rehabilitation interventions aimed at changing the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviour of people on probation with a full range of offence types and a full range of levels of risks (including those convicted of sexual and domestic abuse offences), as determined by sentences of the Courts and on the recommendation of Probation Practitioners.
The main objectives are to reduce re-offending, protect the public, prevent future victims and rehabilitation to help people build constructive and meaningful lives in the community, through the delivery of effective evidence based Accredited Programmes and Structured Interventions.
The post holder will be Regionally based and sit in the Interventions Team and report to the Programme Manager. They will deliver interventions across a large regional area with travel required. There will be no line management responsibility in this role.
There will be a requirement to regularly work unsocial hours (including evenings and weekends).
Summary
The job holder will be delivering interventions in groups, however dependent on the intervention can be delivered in 1:1 sessions or remotely (including working with individuals with learning disabilities and challenges) in line with operational manuals and organisational policies.
The post holder will liaise and feedback to Probation Practitioners and other agencies in regard to people on probation’s progress, work needed and/or concerns within a group. They will contribute to the overall assessment of risk and need related to offending to address this.
Responsibilities, Activities & Duties
The job holder will be required to carry out the following responsibilities, activities and duties:
* Responsible for the planning and delivery of Interventions in a group or on an individual basis to people on probation. The post holder will develop and build a therapeutic and safe working environment for the duration of the programme, in line with operational manuals taking into account different learning styles and abilities.
* Will contribute to statutory safeguarding responsibilities and multi-agency public protection policies to manage all risks of serious harm.
* Will manage group dynamics and a range of complexities and needs of people on probation, to ensure effective targeting of the intervention and that the learning outcomes are achieved. Responsible for addressing any problematic behaviour within groups.
* Responsible for continually monitoring and making informed, evidenced recommendations around suitability, risk, safety and wellbeing of people on probation throughout the intervention (pre, during and post), to inform future sentence management.
* Will be responsible for completing timely and accurate recording of all relevant data; attendance, feedback, risk issues, and relevant reports, that meet quality assurance requirements.
* Responsible for liaising and providing timely and appropriate communication and analysis of people on probation’s progress on the intervention or concerns within a group, with the relevant staff or stakeholders (Courts, Criminal Justice Agencies etc) responsible for enforcement and risk management plans.
* Deliver, workshops and briefings to Probation staff and external stakeholders on the range, purpose and content of interventions available.
* Demonstrate pro-social modelling skills by consistently reinforcing pro-social behaviour and attitudes and challenging anti-social behaviour and attitudes.
* Will participate in regular video monitoring feedback sessions to ensure audit standards are met and to review and reflect on their own practice and implement advised professional development.
The post holder must adhere to all policies in respect of the sensitive/confidential nature of the information handled whilst working in this position and must always demonstrate a commitment to equality and inclusion and an understanding of their relevance to the work they do.
The duties/responsibilities listed above describe the post as it is at present and is not intended to be exhaustive. The job holder is expected to accept reasonable alterations and additional tasks of a similar level that may be necessary. Significant adjustments may require re-examination under the Job Evaluation Scheme and shall be discussed in the first instance with the job holder.
Civil Service Success Profile Criteria
Behaviours
* Communicating and Influencing
* Managing a Quality Service
* Developing Self and Others
* Working Together
Ability
* The ability to evidence high level literacy skills required to read, understand and interpret policies and the ability to write reports and correspondence for internal and external stakeholders.
* An ability to fulfil all spoken aspects of the role with confidence through the medium of English or Welsh.
Experience
* Experience of dealing with challenging behaviour, including from individuals who have experienced a range of social/ personal difficulties, within a professional or personal setting.
* Experience of working collaboratively, maintaining effective team relationships.
* An awareness and some understanding of the criminal justice system, safeguarding principles and types of sentences given to People on Probation.
* Experience of assessing and analysing information from different sources and situations to make decisions.
* An understanding of and commitment to promoting equality and valuing diversity.
* Experience of using a range of IT software applications such as Microsoft.
* Experience of implementing new learning to improve performance.
* Experience of planning and prioritising tasks effectively in response to changing demands.
Technical
* Candidates will be required to undertake and pass an Assessment Centre prior to undertaking training.
* Candidates will be required to become an Accredited Programmes Facilitator by:
* Undertaking and successfully passing Core Skills (1 week) to evidence their competence in delivering group work interventions (within 6 months).
* Undertaking and successfully passing Programme specific training for each programme and intervention the service delivers (1 week per programme).
Additional Information
Are you passionate about rehabilitation? Could you help people make meaningful and sustained changes in their lives? If so, then a career as a Programme Facilitator in the Probation Service is for you.
Providing interventions to people who engage in harmful behaviour to help reduce their likelihood of reoffending is an important part of our work in HMPPS. Our Programme Facilitators deliver a range of Accredited Programmes and Structured Interventions. You will be delivering groupwork and individual work to people subject to Community Orders or on licence after release from prison. These programmes are designed to support people to desist from crime, help people build on their strengths and lead more fulfilling and pro-social lives. You will be working with people who have perpetrated domestic abuse, sexual abuse and/or committed other violent and acquisitive offences.
Our team is made up of a strong and inclusive group of colleagues, from all walks of life, who are passionate about helping and motivating people on probation. You will work alongside your fellow team members to ensure that people on probation receive the highest quality input and support, as well as sharing information and providing guidance to members of the wider Probation Service, such as Probation Practitioners and Domestic Abuse Safety Officers.
The work is varied, challenging and meaningful and comes with job security, great benefits and career progression opportunities - not to mention the chance to make a real difference to people’s lives and our communities.
The majority of our Programmes are delivered in the evening and therefore evening work is essential in this role. You will also travel to different locations to your office base to deliver these programmes. Travel expenses can be claimed.
Due to the nature of the role extensive training and support is provided to ensure that all Programme Facilitators are confident and competent to succeed. Through the training programme you will learn about all aspects of programme delivery, including the theory behind the interventions we deliver. It is a requirement to successfully complete a 6-month probationary period, including undertaking an assessment centre and passing assessed training.
In addition to the base salary, you will be entitled to unsocial hours payments for working in the evenings and/or a Saturday. Working on a Saturday attracts an additional premium of 50% and working evenings an additional 30%.
Interview and assessment process:
The assessment will consist of two activities:
1. A facilitation exercise with some follow up questions (topic will be emailed to you once interview booked)
2. An interview relating to the role of a programme facilitator
For the facilitation exercise you will need to prepare a presentation, the topic of which will be shared with you once you book an interview slot.
The facilitation exercise will be measuring you against the behaviours of Communicating and Influencing, Developing Self and Others and Managing a Quality Service.
You will have up to 10 minutes to deliver the exercise.
The reserve list for this campaign will be managed in accordance with location preference/s, as indicated in your application. We will appoint in merit list order for each location outlined in the vacancy and hold a separate locational reserve list for each of these locations. After appointments have been made using this locational appointment process, any remaining candidates who met the benchmark for the role will remain on a locational reserve list in accordance with their preferences for 12 months. Please only indicate preferences when you are prepared to work. If you are subsequently offered a role from the reserve list for a location preference indicated in your application and decline it, you will be removed from the reserve list for the vacancy, across all locational preferences.
Working Arrangements & Further Information
The MoJ offers Hybrid Working arrangements with business need allowed. This is an informal, non-contractual form of flexible working that blends working from your base location, different MoJ sites and/or from home. Some roles will not be suitable for Hybrid Working. Arrangements will be discussed and agreed with the successful candidate(s) and subject to regular review.
For nationally advertised roles, the successful candidate(s) will be appointed to a MoJ office location, which may include their nearest Justice Collaboration Centre or Justice Satellite Office. This will be discussed and agreed on the completion of pre-employment checks.
Some of MoJ’s terms and conditions of service are changing as part of Civil Service reform. The changes will apply to staff joining MoJ who are new to the Civil Service. Staff joining MoJ from other civil service employers will transfer onto the new MoJ terms if they are already on 'modernised' terms in their current post or onto 'unmodernised' MoJ terms if they are on 'unmodernised' terms at their current post. Details will be available if an offer is made.
Standard full time working hours are 37 hours per week excluding breaks which are unpaid. HMPPS welcomes part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns. All applications for part-time, flexible and job-sharing working patterns will be considered in accordance with the HMPPS’ Flexible Working policy.
Benefits
The MoJ offers a range of benefits:
* Annual Leave: 25 days on appointment and will increase to 30 days after five years’ service, plus public holidays. Leave for part-time and job share posts will be calculated on a pro-rata basis
* Pension: The National Probation Service is covered by the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) run through the Greater Manchester Pension Fund (GMPF). Please visit www.gmpf.org.uk for further information. Note: Any current Civil Servant who is a member of the PCSPS, by accepting an offer of employment to the National Probation Services will be opted out of the PCSPS and auto enrolled into the Local Government Pension Scheme.
* Training: The Ministry of Justice is committed to staff development and offers an extensive range of training and development opportunities.
* Networks: Employee networks exist to provide advice and support and enable the views of employees from minority groups to be expressed to senior management.
* Eligibility: All candidates are subject to security and identity checks prior to taking up post
* Support: Family Friendly policies, flexible benefits, childcare-related information, paid leave, sight tests, etc.
Working for the Civil Service
The Civil Service Code sets out the standards of behaviour expected. We recruit on merit, fairness and openness. If you have a concern about the process you can contact the appropriate channels listed in the advertisement.
Diversity & Inclusion
The Civil Service is committed to attracting, retaining and investing in talent. See Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy for details.
Reserve list
A reserve list may be held for up to 12 months from which further appointments may be made for the same or similar roles.
Contact Information
If you require any assistance please call 0345 241 5358 or e mail moj-recruitment-vetting-enquiries@resourcing.soprasteria.co.uk. Please quote the job reference.
Allowance
Unsocial Hours as will be working 14:00-22:00 on some days.
Job Description Attachment
PS JES 0123 Programme Facilitator JD v1.pdf (Job Description Attachment)
Select new file
Application form stage assessments
Developing Self and Others; Communicating and Influencing
Evidence of Experience; Experience Questions
Interview stage assessments
Interview Dates: To be confirmed
Developing Self and Others; Communicating and Influencing; Working Together
Strengths
Strengths will be assessed but these are not shared in advance. More information available in the assessment guidance.
Other Assessments
Which assessment methods will be used? Presentation
Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
You must ensure that any evidence submitted as part of your application, including your CV, statement of suitability and behaviour examples, are truthful and factually accurate. Please note that plagiarism can include presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own.
Security
Level of security checks required: DBS Enhanced
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